The Best Potential Landing Spots for Robert Griffin III's Rebirth

With Robert Griffin III now relegated to the bench for a combination of poor timing and decision making with both his arm and mouth, it now opens the door to speculate on what his future will hold. All signs seem to point toward him wearing a different color jersey in 2015. If this is indeed his future, where are some of the best possible destinations he could end up?

Before he was drafted, Robert Griffin III made an appearance on ESPN’s Gruden’s QB Camp. During which, he made a few comments about how he and fellow draft prospect Andrew Luck would be forever compared to one another.

After their rookie seasons, the debate between who the better quarterback was deemed far from a sure thing. However, since entering the league, Luck has managed to take a team that was 2-14 before he arrived and go 29-14 since. Griffin, on the other hand, took over a 5-11 team and went 13-20 before being benched just a few weeks ago. By that standard, it would certainly suggest Luck is the better choice after all.

When the first-year head coach Jay Gruden arrived in Washington, he seemed optimistic about his franchise quarterback and being able to work with a guy who has electrified the fans in ways most had never dreamed. But optimism quickly morphed into unwavering frustration.

Jason Reid of The Washington Post wrote:

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After working with Griffin for more than 10 months, however, Gruden is now done with him, according to people within the organization. To Gruden, Griffin seemed more concerned about enhancing his brand than about honing his pocket skills. Often, Gruden rolled his eyes after being informed about the life lessons the 24-year-old offered on social media. Gruden became frustrated that Griffin, even after Gruden benched him, failed to acknowledge his role in his failure.

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With this being the reported atmosphere within the Redskins’ organization, it looks like it may be time to start thinking about where this once promising quarterback can rekindle the dying flames of his career.

But just how bad have things gotten for Robert Griffin III?  

During an interview with theMMQB.com's Jenny Vrentas, Fran Tarkenton offered up his unvarnished opinion of Robert Griffin III and it was none too complimentary, to put it lightly.

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He came into the league with an arrogance. He goes into Washington, which is the worst place for him to go. They have been so hungry for a quarterback and for winning. They worshipped him. Here's RG3; he's our savior, he's our guy. His father gets involved and is in the locker room -- I have never seen a father in a locker room on Sundays. The owner, Dan Snyder, adopts him and becomes his best friend. So RG3, at 21, 22, thought he was Jesus, right? And he was making pontifical statements about how he approached the game. I was listening to him the offseason after his rookie year, which was not a bad year, and I'm saying, 'Holy s---, this guy is out of control with his ego.' That was the first sign you saw that he lacked leadership.

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So where, if anywhere, can Griffin begin his resurrection?

6. Oakland Raiders

Ben Margot/Associated Press

On the surface this might not seem like a smart move at all.

Rookie QB Derek Carr has impressed many within the organization and throughout the media but may not be the franchise guy they’ve been looking for. Carr may have a strong arm but has managed just a 5.4 average yards per pass this season, which is the second worst average among QBs who have played at least 25 percent of their snaps.

Even with Carr on the team, bringing in Griffin provides the team with some much-needed competition at the position to help dig this team out of their perpetual agony.

Carr has been protected quite well this season behind that retooled offensive line, having been sacked just 15 times in 735 snaps. By contrast, Griffin has been sacked 20 times in just 277 snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription site).

Raider Nation would no doubt have much to be excited about seeing RG3 in the silver and black.

5. New York Jets

This destination’s intrigue is somewhat fluid and will remain as such while we wait to see who will be the head coach for the Jets in 2015.

Another element that makes RG3 to the Jets less likely is the potential opportunity they may have to land Oregon’s sensational QB Marcus Mariota. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller currently has Mariota ranked as his top prospect in the 2015 draft.

With that said, should Mariota end up elsewhere and the proper head coach (one with an offensive background and a penchant for creativity) were to arrive, this could be the perfect marriage between the two parties.

Of course, an assumption will have to be made that the Jets will add a few more weapons on offense to go with Percy Harvin (if they decide to retain his services), Jace Amaro and Eric Decker.

Another sticky element would be the presence of Geno Smith. Considering where each QB is at with their careers, it’s reasonable to imagine them battling this offseason for the rights to the starting quarterback job.

4. Houston Texans

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Head coach Bill O’Brien seems to be building something good down in Houston and could be just a few pieces away from fielding a Super Bowl contender. That’s right. There’s a ton of young talent on their defense that’s peaking at the same time along with a rising star at the receiver position and one of the league’s most reliable RBs, when healthy.

Their primary need is currently at the quarterback position and that isn’t likely to change much next year even with the return of Ryan Mallett.

The good news is that Griffin’s price tag in a trade scenario is far from unreasonable. According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, who talked to several league execs, as per Chris Wesseling, Griffin's trade value is set at a conditional mid-round draft pick where the price of the trade escalates based on his performance.

That means the Texans can add a QB project with high upside and have one more option at the most important position in football for an affordable price. These opportunities don’t come along very often and it might be worthwhile to swing for the fences in this situation.

And let's not forget, RG3 might have been born in Japan, but he has spent quite a bit of time in the state of Texas.  

3. Kansas City Chiefs

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If there’s one thing head coach Andy Reid seems to be good at, it’s creating a system in which his quarterbacks can thrive. This has been true for nearly every guy he’s had playing for him.

Reid seems to have a knack for maximizing the strengths of his signal-callers while minimizing their weaknesses. This type of QB-friendly environment should bode well for a guy like RG3. After all, Reid seemed to do a remarkable job wrangling in and maximizing the value of Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick, Kevin Kolb, Alex Smith etc.

The big obstacles in this scenario are that the Chiefs just committed themselves to Smith to a four-year contract with $45 million in guaranteed cash. That’s quite a commitment for a guy whose longest completion all season is just 34 yards.

In any case, Smith could use some competition at the position while the Chiefs could have the two quarterbacks battle it out for the starting job. If RG3 wins, Reid and Co. can see if anyone is willing to take Smith and his contract off their hands for basically nothing in return. If Smith wins, they can sit Griffin for the final year of his contract at a relatively cheap price and evaluate their options when his contract expires. Or, in a longshot scenario, swapping Smith for RG3 in a packaged deal could give both teams a boost at QB.  

The bottom line here is this: You can’t find an RG3-caliber player in the 2015 draft or on the free-agent market for the value of a conditional third-round draft pick. This is a move a team like the Chiefs should be considering.

But for RG3, going to a team with a poor offensive line and a lack of weapons would have its risks—the payoff or balancer here is Andy Reid.

2. St. Louis Rams

David Richard/Associated Press

How serendipitous would it be for the Rams to land the very guy who they allowed to go elsewhere in exchange for a king’s ransom? Coming away with RG3 just four years later at a fraction of the price would drive home just how badly the Rams won that trade.

Back in 2012, the Rams traded the No. 2 overall pick to Washington. In exchange, they received a first-rounder from Washington that same year, as well as one in the 2013, and 2014 drafts. They also received a second-round pick in 2012.

But in a series of trades in 2012 and 2013, the Rams expanded those four original picks into eight contributors. Five currently are starters—defensive lineman Michael Brockers, linebacker Alec Ogletree and cornerback Janoris Jenkins on defense, plus wide receiver Stedman Bailey and left tackle Greg Robinson on offense.

Running back Zac Stacy isn’t starting, but he did run for 973 yards last season, helping to rescue the Rams’ running game and give a struggling offense a major boost.

So, just think of how incredible it would be for them to put the icing on the cake in this trade with a relatively cheap acquisition of RG3. This trade would be so embarrassing for the Redskins that it’s hard to believe they would ever consider making that trade.

But if they did consider it, both the Rams and Robert Griffin III could benefit greatly from fresh starts. RG3 would certainly be surrounded by some intriguing offensive weapons and a solid offensive line to protect him.

Incumbent starter (if we can even call him that) Sam Bradford can’t stay healthy to save his life and this draft seems limited in terms of quarterback talent. That means if the Rams are hoping to upgrade that position with more than just a stopgap player, there isn’t likely going to be a better option available than Mr. Griffin.

1. Philadelphia Eagles

Tim Sharp/Associated Press

For many Eagles fans, and possibly for RG3, this destination would be a dream come true. Being afforded the opportunity to play in Chip Kelly’s system would be the chance of a lifetime for both the Eagles and the beleaguered QB.

Coach Kelly seems to have devised a system that brings out the best in every QB who operates within it. Under Kelly, quarterbacks like Nick Foles, Mike Vick and even good ol’ Mark Sanchez have flourished beyond anyone’s expectations.

That certainly adds intrigue to the possible arrival of RG3 to the mix. And once he gets there, may the best man win the job.

Griffin seems like an ideal QB in Kelly’s wide-open system that relies heavily on play action and read-option plays from the shotgun formation. This is essentially a variation of the system Griffin thrived in when he was a rookie—only this time it comes with tempo and a ton of fun wrinkles that defenses are still trying to figure out.

Ryan Riddle is a former NFL player writing for Bleacher Report.

Follow him on Twitter.